Even so, Billups, who turns 36 in September, said he will play next season.

He said returning to the Clippers is something he would like to do.

"I'm definitely going to give this a huge amount of consideration this summer. I feel like we've got some unfinished business a little bit," Billups said. "You never know what direction the team is going, if they even want me back. I've learned not to really assume nothing.

"I don't know if this is going to be my last time here. But if it is, I had a good time. But if not, I'm looking forward to continuing. I'm definitely going to be back playing next year. For sure and you can believe that. Believe it."

"I think we deserve the same courtesy everybody else gets. ... [Atlanta Hawks Coach] Larry Drew got his option picked up a few days [after their season ended]. … I think Vinny did a great job, and that’s as far as I’m going to go today.”

Griffin is eligible to sign an extension with the organization this summer or he could become a restricted free agent after next season, while Paul is under contract only for one more year.

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The Clippers say they are confident they'll be able to retain both players for a long time.

"I feel those things are going to get done," Clippers president Andy Roeser told ESPNLosAngeles.com. "The important thing is that we have to do other things to improve the team. But I believe we'll do those things and ultimately I believe those two players (Griffin and Paul) are going to play out their careers here."

Griffin is eligible to sign a five-year extension on July 1 and the Clippers will offer it to him. When asked about his intentions, Griffin said he hadn't considered them yet.

"I haven't given it one ounce of thought," Griffin said. "That's been the furthest thing from my mind, honestly. I know that's kind of the popular thing to say, but I haven't thought about it. I'll get to that when it comes."

Paul wasn't asked directly about his future intentions, but a source close to the situation said he has given the team indications he intends to stay long term.

Still, it is believed that both players are curious to see what the organization will be able to do to bolster the roster this offseason. The team clearly needs help at the shooting guard position and consistent outside shooters who can space the floor.

One player who won't be going anywhere, at least of his own volition, is guard Mo Williams, who told ESPNLosAngeles.com that he did not intent to opt out of his $8.5 million player option for next season.

"No," Williams said when asked if he would opt out this summer. "I can tell you that right now."

Williams had a solid season (13.2 points, 3.1 assists) despite coming off the bench, and mostly out of position as a shooting guard. Still, he's part of a glut of point guards on the Clippers roster that could be used to upgrade at other positions via trade.

"This is my first time in this position. I don't think about it when I'm playing," Williams said. "I haven't thought about it. I pay a good man 4 percent of my money, so he'll make a good decision for me."

#Clippers F Blake Griffin on the offseason: “I need to improve in a lot of areas. Obviously everyone looks at offense, shooting the basketball, which is something I am going to work on. Also, defensively, just studying the game and watching things and trying to improve in every area. There is tons of room for improvement, so I have a little work to do this summer. ”

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#Clippers G Nick Young: “[I want to] just get better in all areas. I’m still a free agent. You never know what happens. I don’t want to go anywhere. I love this playoff atmosphere. It’s great to walk around the city and keep your head held high, and the fans see how hard we worked. I admit this year was crazy. We made it to the second round and had a chance to complete the impossible.”

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#Clippers G Chris Paul on next season: “We are going to come back next season ready to go. I have never been one of those people who believes you have to take stepping stones to get to the next level. I think it’s great that our team got a little taste of the playoffs. I think coming into camp next year we are going to expect more, a lot more. It’s going to be a big summer for all of us. I need to get better. Everybody has to get better.”

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#Clippers G Chris Paul on his first season in LA: "We had a good season. I think it’s a good sign for our team that there is no moral victory. It’s not like, oh we made it to the playoffs, it’s all good and well. We feel like we should have still been playing. We are going to keep working. We have some work to do. Obviously we have to get better because that’s a good team we lost to. Credit goes to San Antonio. They played an awesome series, but no question, we are going to get to work."

“Mo’s a great player. The guy’s a former All-Star. He brought a lot to the team. There’s a lot of wins we had this year because of Mo,” said Olshey. “We have two different strategy boards up there we’ve talked about this. If Mo opts in, we’re a Mid-Level/Bi-Annual Exception team. If Mo opts out we’re a room team.”

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“I think we got exposed a little bit with our size at the two,” said Olshey earlier on Monday. “I think we need to get more of a traditional two guard, one that can guard size.”

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“We can get back into the deal making mode,” said Olshey. “We’ve got trade exceptions, we’ve got one-year contracts, we’ve got draft picks we can move and the most exciting thing is now we’re a destination.”

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Further clarification with the league confirms that the Clippers can offer Billups 120% of last year’s full salary, including the amount paid by the New York Knicks.

Without Bird Rights, the Clippers would be able to offer Billups up to $17 million for next year which is far more than he’ll get from LA (or any other team).

Nick Young is in a slightly similar position. The Clippers can offer him up $4.4 million (120% raise) without using their Mid-Level Exception.

Mo Williams to the Brooklyn Nets for Anthony Morrow & Jordan Farmar
-Clippers turn one expiring contract into two productive players. Nets open up a roster slot and add a formidable backup to Deron or a nice insurance policy in case he bails.

Ryan Gomes to the Miami Heat for Shane Battier, James Jones, 2 2nds
-Heat cut some long term salary, while the Clippers take on an extra year of Battier but gain a veteran presence and a shooter. 2 Future 2nds can be used as trade assets, somewhat.

Might hinder our cap next year, slightly, but adds two solid shooters along with an exceptional veteran defender that can also knock down the open J. Craig Smith provides us with an option off the bench that can score in the post and Aaron Gray is just a big guy. Ryan Hollins, Ian Mahinmi, Kyryelo Fesenko, Jordan Hill, Hamed Haddadi, Kwame Brown could all be other options.

Q's Plan #2:
Trade Maurice Williams, Ryan Gomes to the Atlanta Hawks for Zaza Pachulia, Marvin Williams, #43.
-Hawks give up on the Marvin experiment and deal his contract for an expiring one in Gomes at the cost of their backup big man and early 2nd Round Pick. Clippers gain some size, a legit backup SF with size who still may improve and a second pick in the 2nd round.

Q's Plan #2:
Trade Maurice Williams, Ryan Gomes to the Atlanta Hawks for Zaza Pachulia, Marvin Williams, #43.
-Hawks give up on the Marvin experiment and deal his contract for an expiring one in Gomes at the cost of their backup big man and early 2nd Round Pick. Clippers gain some size, a legit backup SF with size who still may improve and a second pick in the 2nd round.

“I’ll be the first one to tell any player that this is where you want to be,” Paul said. “The team has all the small things, the great training staff, the great practice facility and a guy like Blake Griffin to play with. So, why not?”

Neil Olshey believes the Clippers have become an attractive destination for free agents.

“I know the culture has changed because we went from a ‘have to’ organization — ‘I have to go to the Clippers,’ ‘I got traded to the Clippers,’ ‘I got drafted by the Clippers’ — to a ‘want to.’ Guys want to be here now,” said Olshey, Clippers vice president of basketball operations. “They want to play here.”

LOS ANGELES -- The fate of Los Angeles Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro won't be known until next week at the earliest, according to sources close to the situation.

But Del Negro's status must be resolved by next Friday at the latest thanks to the June 1 deadline in his contract for the Clippers to either pick up or decline their third-year team option.

Sources told ESPNLosAngeles.com that the decision rests largely with Clippers owner Donald Sterling, which could help Del Negro. The embattled coach has enjoyed a largely positive relationship with Sterling over the past two seasons, with Sterling issuing a public vote of confidence in Del Negro in March after an ESPN.com report that his job was in jeopardy.